Nucleic Acid Detection Cartridge

The present disclosure relates to a nucleic acid detection cartridge including a cover.

As interest in health among modern individuals increases and life expectancy extends, the importance of accurate analysis of pathogens and in vitro nucleic acid-based molecular diagnosis, such as genetic analysis for patients, is rising, leading to an increased demand. Nucleic acid-based molecular diagnosis involves extracting nucleic acids from a sample and then confirming the presence or absence of a target nucleic acid among the extracted nucleic acids.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most widely used nucleic acid amplification method, encompassing repeated cycles of denaturation of double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), annealing of oligonucleotide primers to the DNA templates, and extension of the primers by DNA polymerase (Mullis et al.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,195, 4,683,202 and 4,800,159; Saiki et al., (1985) Science 230, 1350-1354).

Real-time PCR using a fluorescent material is a method of detecting an increase in fluorescence intensity according to nucleic acid amplification during a PCR process. Real-time PCR enables multiplex detection by using different fluorescent dyes for respective targets, however, it requires expensive equipment and a considerable period of time for detection.

Meanwhile, recent point-of-care (POC) diagnostic techniques, which enable accurate and rapid diagnosis of diseases without being restricted by time or location, are gaining attention as crucial techniques for evidence-based precision medicine.

However, POC diagnostic devices with a simplified structure, a compact size, and a reduced processing time often face the issue of low detection accuracy for target substances.

i) Against this backdrop, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a nucleic acid detection cartridge having a cover assembly whose position may be changed relative to a chamber body.

ii) According to another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a target analyte detection cartridge capable of sample filtering that enables unrefined crude samples to be directly injected into the cartridge for use.

iii) According to another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a target analyte detection cartridge having a cover assembly capable of sealing a detection well.

iv) According to another aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a target analyte detection cartridge capable of rapid and accurate detection through arrangement of detection chambers.

i) In order to achieve the above objectives, a first embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a nucleic acid detection cartridge, including a chamber body including a plurality of chambers provided on an upper surface thereof, and a cover facing the upper surface of the chamber body, wherein at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be movable relative to each other on a plane that is parallel to the upper surface, and at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be movable relative to each other in a direction that is perpendicular to the upper surface.

Here, the plurality of chambers include chambers arranged in a circumferential direction with respect to a center of the chamber body, and the cover is provided to cover the chambers.

Here, at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be rotationally movable relative to each other about an axis of rotation, and at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be able to translate relative to each other in a direction of the axis of rotation.

Here, the cover includes a pipette hole provided on a movement path of a pipette or a pipette tip that aspirates fluids from one or more of the plurality of chambers and injects fluids into one or more of the plurality of chambers.

Here, the nucleic acid detection cartridge further includes the pipette tip coupled to an end portion of the pipette, and provided to be vertically movable through the pipette hole of the cover.

Here, the cover has a pipette tip guide that extends upward from the pipette hole and accommodates the pipette tip therein.

Here, the pipette tip includes a connecting portion to which the pipette is able to be coupled, a pipette tip body extending downward from the connecting portion to form a flow path, a tip portion extending downward from the pipette tip body, and a pipette tip filter member provided in the flow path inside the pipette tip body.

Here, the chamber body rotates about a central axis, and the plurality of chambers include chambers arranged in the circumferential direction with respect to a center of the chamber body.

Here, the chamber body is provided in a shape of a circular disk or a shape of a portion of a disk, and the cover includes an inner side surface facing an outer side surface of the chamber body, and an upper portion facing the upper surface of the chamber body.

Here, the nucleic acid detection cartridge further includes a sealing ring that is provided on the inner side surface of the cover or on the outer side surface of the chamber body, and blocks air outside the cover.

Here, the sealing ring is provided in a lower portion of the outer side surface of the chamber body, when the cover is relatively distant from the chamber body in the direction of the axis of rotation, the sealing ring is not in contact with the cover, and when the cover is relatively close to the chamber body in the direction of the axis of rotation, the sealing ring comes into contact with the cover.

Here, the sealing ring has a coefficient of friction that allows relative rotation of the cover and the chamber body.

Here, the nucleic acid detection cartridge further includes a sealing film that is attached or coupled to the upper surface of the chamber body to seal the plurality of chambers.

Here, the pipette tip is able to descend to penetrate the sealing film.

Here, vertical guide structures are provided on the inner side surface of the cover and the outer side surface of the chamber body, respectively, to guide a vertical movement of the chamber body or the cover, and the vertical guide structures allow the chamber body or the cover to move in the direction of the axis of rotation at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction.

Here, the nucleic acid detection cartridge further includes vertical guide structures that guide a vertical movement of the chamber body or the cover, wherein the vertical guide structures are provided on the upper surface of the chamber body and a bottom surface of the cover that faces the upper surface of the chamber body, respectively, and the vertical guide structures allow the chamber body or the cover to move in the direction of the axis of rotation at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction.

Here, the chamber body further includes a sample accommodation chamber into which a sample is injected, and the cover includes a sample injection hole capable of, when aligned with the sample accommodation chamber, opening the sample accommodation chamber.

Here, the sample accommodation chamber is provided to be spatially partitioned into a sample injection region where the sample is injected, and a sample withdrawal region where the sample is withdrawn, and the sample accommodation chamber has a filter member through which the sample injected into the sample injection region passes before being withdrawn from the sample withdrawal region.

Here, the sample injection hole is positioned above the sample injection region when the sample is injected, and is positioned above the sample withdrawal region when a nucleic acid is detected.

Here, the cover has a sample guide portion that extends toward a lower side of the sample injection hole and is able to be accommodated in the sample withdrawal region as the chamber body and the cover come into proximity to each other.

Here, the chamber body further includes a detection chamber in which a nucleic acid is detected, and the cover has a light-transmitting portion capable of transmitting detection light into the detection chamber.

Here, the detection chamber has a detection well in which the nucleic acid is detected, the cover has a detection well sealing portion capable of sealing the detection well, and at least one of the chamber body and the cover is able to be selectively positioned relative to each other in a first position where the detection well sealing portion opens the detection well, and a second position where the detection well sealing portion seals the detection well.

In addition, there may be provided a nucleic acid detection cartridge, including a chamber body including a sample accommodation chamber into which a sample is injected, and a detection chamber in which a detection well in which a nucleic acid is detected is provided, and a cover having an opening capable of opening the sample accommodation chamber, and a light-transmitting portion capable of transmitting detection light into the detection well, wherein at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be selectively positioned relative to each other in a first position where the sample is withdrawn from the sample accommodation chamber through the opening, and a second position where the nucleic acid is detected in the detection well, and at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be closer to the second position than the first position, relative to each other.

In addition, there may be provided a nucleic acid detection cartridge, including a chamber body having a plurality of chambers provided on an upper surface thereof, a cover facing the upper surface of the chamber body, and a pipette tip configured to be vertically movable relative to the cover, and to be coupled to an end portion of a pipette, wherein at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be rotatable relative to each other, and the pipette tip transfers fluids between the plurality of chambers while changing a relative position thereof in a circumferential direction of the chamber body together with the cover.

Here, the cover includes a pipette hole provided on a movement path of the pipette tip.

Here, the cover has a pipette tip guide that extends upward from the pipette hole and accommodates the pipette tip therein.

Here, the pipette tip includes a connecting portion to which the pipette is able to be coupled, a pipette tip body extending downward from the connecting portion to form a flow path, a tip portion extending downward from the pipette tip body, and a pipette tip filter member provided in the flow path inside the pipette tip body.

Here, the connecting portion has a first catching protrusion that extends toward an outside of an opening of the pipette tip guide such that the pipette tip is seated on the pipette tip guide.

Here, the pipette tip body has a second catching protrusion that extends toward an outside of an opening of the pipette tip guide to prevent the pipette tip from being separated upward from the cover.

Here, the second catching protrusion is provided to protrude in a circumferential direction of the pipette tip body, and to be elastically deformable.

Here, the pipette tip guide includes a step structure in which an upper inner diameter is less than a lower inner diameter, and the second catching protrusion has an outer diameter greater than the upper inner diameter of the pipette tip guide.

Here, the nucleic acid detection cartridge further includes a sealing film that is attached or coupled to the upper surface of the chamber body to seal the plurality of chambers.

Here, the sealing film is configured to be penetrated by the pipette tip.

Here, the plurality of chambers include chambers arranged in the circumferential direction with respect to a center of the chamber body, and the cover is provided to cover the chambers.

Here, at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be rotationally movable relative to each other.

Here, at least one of the chamber body and the cover is provided to be able to translate relative to each other in a direction of the axis of rotation.

Here, the chamber body has a plurality of chambers arranged in the circumferential direction with respect to a center, and detection chambers arranged side by side, and the detection chambers are arranged such that a straight line having a certain angle to any one radial direction of the chamber body passes through the detection chambers.

Here, the detection chambers are arranged such that the pipette performing a relative circular motion at a certain radius away from a central axis of the chamber body passes through the detection chambers.

Here, the detection chamber includes a detection well in which a nucleic acid is detected, and an inclined portion that guides a sample to the detection well.

Here, the detection chamber is provided in a form of an elongated hole extending in a direction parallel to the radial direction, and the detection well is positioned farther away in the radial direction than the inclined portion.